Irish History From The 1800 Act

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Briefly identify key relevant dates in Irish history from the 1800 Act of Union onwards which ultimately led to the sitting of the first Dail in Mansion House?

Letterkenny Institute of Technology

Department of Law and Humanities

Law with Criminal Justice

Sandra Liubkeviciute L00104432

In this essay I will briefly identify key relevant dates in Irish History which led to the sitting of the first Dail. Starting from the 18th century discussing how Ireland was ruled at that time. How and who were responsible for the raised ideas of self-government and how that effected Ireland and Irish people. What the failed rebellions achieved and how that changed society as a whole.

While Irish army were in the American war of independence in 1770, Protestants formed volunteers to protect borders. Short after the same volunteers were called United Irishmen, the society recalled itself as a secret oath-bound organization. Its purpose was to help create a republican revolution, build Irish republic which will unite Irish Catholics and Protestants as one nation. Break the connection with Britain. This was the beginning of talk about Irish Republic inspired by French revolution. The rebellion of the United Irishmen was led by Theobald Wolfe Tone, later known as father of Irish republicanism. Failed rebellion of 1798 achieved very opposite result than it was expected. Instead of separating Ireland from Britain it brought them closer together, because Government of Westminster and authorities in Ireland were afraid and thought that it is much safer to bring two countries parliaments together in the Act of Union. [1] 

In 1800 Act of Union was passed. This act dissolved Grattan’s Parliament and brought both: Ireland and Great Britain under one Government. In 1804 Robert Emmet tried to remake 1798 rebellion. He shared the United Irishmen idea of uniting Protestants and Catholics as one nation in Independent Irish Republic. Unfortunetly British knew about rebellion commence. Emmet was sentenced to death. The Act of Union had raised hopes of catholic emancipation, but these remained unfulfilled until 1829. In 1823 Daniel O’Connell formed Catholic Association to secure all rights for Roman Catholics. He started emancipation which changed a lot and Catholics could run for parliament, vote, become judges. In 1829 catholic emancipation were passed. O’Connell believed in constitutionalism and human rights, he also set his sight on repealing the Act of Union and wanted to establish of an Irish Parliament. His repeal association organised monster meetings. Daniel O’Connell was arrested and was charged for conspiracy.

In 1850 – 1860 nationalism raised. Isaac Butt founded the home rule movement. He founded the home government Association in 1870. He campaign for a federal system of Irish autonomy.

Charles Stewart Parnell actively involved himself in politics after execution of three Fenians in 1874. In 1875 he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Meath. He joined Isaac Butts Home Rule Party. He was nationalist leader of Home rule part 1875 – 1880 and 1880 – 1891. First Home Rule Bill was introduced in 1886, but it was defeated in the House of Commons. [2] 

John Redmond becomes a Home Rule MP in 1881. When the Party split over the O’Shea divorce case, he sided with Parnell. In 1900, when the party reunited, he was chosen as leader of Home Rule Party. [3] 

Home Rule was the name given to the process of allowing Ireland more say in how it was governed – freeing them from the rule of London and thus appeasing those in Ireland who wanted Ireland to have more home derived power. [4] 

One of the main barriers to Home Rule for decades had been the House of Lords. The leader of the Irish Nationalist Party, John Redmond, had stated quite clearly in 1910 that it was the Lord’s veto alone that came between Ireland and a successful Home Rule bill. In 1911, the Parliament Act abolished the Lords Veto, they could only delay bill but not reject it. [5] 

Third Home Rule Bill was passed in 1912. It became law as the Government of Ireland Act in 1914, but implementation of this Act was delayed due to WW1. Bicameral Irish legislature was enacted with limited powers. No powers re defence or foreign affairs or fiscal matters. [6] 

Prior the 1914 Ulster Unionists were against Home Rule. Edward Carson and James Craig formed Ulster Volunteers to fight against the Home Rule. At the same time Owen McNeil formed Irish Volunteers who were prepared to fight for the Home Rule. [7] 

1913 - Dublin Lockout was the protest for workers’ rights led by James Larkin. Dublin Lockout was Ireland’s most famous labour dispute. The Irish Citizen Army were formed at that time, which fought in the Rising under the command of James Connolly. [8] 

"The roots of the Rising lie in the ‘new nationalism’ which emerged in Ireland from the 1890s. Its most significant outcome was the rejuvenation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). This small, underground, revolutionary body planned and directed the insurrection in 1916. The truly dynamic element was a tiny minority within this organisation; they were acting on the old republican principle: ‘England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity’. In August 1915, this group formed the IRB Military Council." It was composed of seven members – Thomas Clarke, Sean McDermott, Patrick Pearce, Eamonn Ceannt, Joseph Plunkett, James Connolly, and Thomas McDonagh. All seven approved and signed the Proclamation, and together they introduced themselves to be the ‘Provisional Government’ of the Irish Republic at the beginning of the Rising. They were aided throughout by an Irish-American organisation, Clan na Gael, which shared their aims and provided virtually the only channel of contact between the insurrectionists and Germany, from whom they hoped to get military backing.

The IRB was too small in number and covert in operation to precipitate a full-scale rising. For this purpose, it hoped to use the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF). This organisation had been formed by nationalist McNeil, impressed by the impact of the Ulster Volunteer Force which was formed by Unionists James Craig and Edward Carson. IVF were frustrated by the delay in Britain granting Ireland autonomy. [9] 

The Rising helped transform Irish nationalist politics. Eamonn de Valera was little known in Ireland until Easter week. During the Rising he served as commandant: he was the most senior figure in it to survive. His political success rise very quickly. As public praising for the rebels grew, he was able to share in the glory of having been one of them. [10] 

Rebellion failed military wise, but it achieved a lot politically. All seven leaders who signed Proclamation (Thomas J. Clarke, Sean McDiermada, Thomas McDonagh, P.H. Pearce, Eamonn Ceannt, James Connolly, and Joseph Plunkett) were executed without the trail. It raised anger and tension between Irish nationalists and people intended to support rebels even more. [11] 

In the second half of 1916, opposition to the Home rule Party was growing. People lost faith in Redmond as during the WW1; he encouraged Irish men to join British army.

People relied to Sinn Féin party. Many people who took part in a rebellion were members of the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood) more militant than Sinn Féin, Arthur Griffith was the founder of Sinn Féin, but later Emonn De Valera took over and become a president of Sinn Féin. [12] 

The First Dáil (An Chéad Dáil) was Dáil Éireann. In 1919 candidates who had been elected in the Westminster elections of 1918 (Sinn Féin won majority of seats in Westminster) refused to recognise the Parliament of the United Kingdom and instead assembled as a unicameral, revolutionary parliament called "Dáil Éireann" made up of members of Sinn Féin. Emonn De Valera becomes President of The Irish Republic.

1919 the new Dáil adopts a provisional Constitution Bunracht Dala Eireann concerning the running of the Dáil; it comprised a declaration which ratified the establishment of the republic proclaimed in 1916. [13] 

The establishment of the First Dáil occurred on the same day as the outbreak of the Irish War of Independence. After elections in 1921 the First Dáil was succeeded by the Second Dáil of 1921-1922. [14]